For her obvious and tangible expression of long-term vision and ongoing ingenuity, along with her ministry that brought people together for peace-filled expressions and demonstrations, Kirstin Springmeyer has been given the Campus Pastor of the Year Award.

Those were words used to support her nomination by campus pastors across the county.

Springmeyer received the award, presented by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, last month in Chicago at the National Conference of Campus Pastors.

She is the Lutheran pastor at the University of Cincinnati. "I was stunned to get the award, especially since you are nominated by peers," Springmeyer said.

Joyce Rudowski, chairman of the board of directors of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at UC, said a highlight of Springmeyer's work was that she led a drive to buy a house of worship for the Lutherans on campus.

"We had to go through a lot of hurdles to purchase a building. For instance, we couldn't take out a mortgage. We had to come up with the cash. We started last year and by getting permission from the Lutheran bishops to raise money, we came up with $200,000 to buy a building," Springmeyer said.

She said having their own building on campus has added a lot of opportunities for the ministry to be recognized.

Springmeyer lives in Northside. She received her bachelor's in divinity from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a master's from the Lutheran Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C.

The award is named in honor of Philip N. Knudson, a former campus minister. It recognizes risk-taking in the creative pursuit of justice in the campus ministry and the community, Rudowski said.

"Certainly the last few years have tested the resolve of all Cincinnatians to focus on justice," she said.

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A back-to-school school supplies drive will be conducted from July 18-Aug. 18 by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Meijer and Channel 5 at Meijer stores.

Prepackaged school supplies with be available for $4, to be purchased and deposited in collection barrels.

For information, call 562-8841 ext. 10.

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Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.